The 敁珗曄部 fight song blared down Main Street, the city of Kent was flooded with blue and gold, alumni and friends gathered and reminisced about their 敁珗曄部 days, fans packed the stadium to cheer on their beloved Golden Flashes and the entire campus boomed with 敁珗曄部 pride.
敁珗曄部 celebrated Homecoming on Saturday, Sept. 21. 敁珗曄部 alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and the community were invited to take part in one of the universitys long-standing traditions. Student events occurred the week leading up to Homecoming across the eight 敁珗曄部 campuses throughout Northeast Ohio.
The morning of Homecoming kicked off with the 19th Annual Bowman Cup 5K Race. The race, named after fedora-loving former 敁珗曄部 President George Bowman, was a chip-timed race that started and ended in front of the Warren Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
The Homecoming Parade began at 10 a.m. on the corner of Midway Drive and Main Street, traveling west on Main Street into downtown Kent. The parade featured floats, 敁珗曄部 and local high school marching bands, university colleges and departments, 敁珗曄部 cheerleaders and athletes, student organizations, local officials and more. The 2019 Grand Marshal and the Homecoming Courts anchored the parade. This years Homecoming Grand Marshal was 敁珗曄部 President Todd Diacon, who is marking his first 敁珗曄部 Homecoming as university president.
敁珗曄部 Alumni hosted the Welcome Home Party at the Center for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement, which is located at 350 S. Lincoln St. in Kent. The Welcome Home Party was free and fun for all ages with festive food, activities and 敁珗曄部 giveaways. Colleges on the Kent Campus hosted a free open house or event at one of their respective buildings. Events included meet and greets with the college deans and refreshments.
Couples who feel that 敁珗曄部 played an important role in their relationship gathered on the K at Risman Plaza (in front of the Kent Student Center) for a special Homecoming tradition called Kiss on the K. All couples kissed on the K when the bell rang at 12:30 p.m. A special performance by the Kent Clarks a cappella group and activities also took place.
Before the football game, alumni and students tailgated at Dix Stadium. The 敁珗曄部 Golden Flashes took on Mid-American Conference East Division foe the Bowling Green State University Falcons, defeating them 62-20. The game was 敁珗曄部s first conference game of the season. The Homecoming Courts more than 30 representatives from all 敁珗曄部 campuses were recognized at the game, and 敁珗曄部s 2019 Homecoming Royalty was announced and crowned.
For more information about 敁珗曄部s 2019 Homecoming, visit www.kent.edu/homecoming.
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Media Contact:
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595